MARTIN: "I'M VERY PROUD"

4 November 2012

Gillingham Manager reacts to 4-0 cup win...

Martin Allen said his side dominated from start to finish in their 4-0 win over Scunthorpe in the first round of the FA Cup with Budweiser on Saturday.
Matt Fish, Deon Burton, Danny Kedwell and Adam Birchall scored the goals in a dominant display against the League One side who rarely threatened throughout the game.
The scores were level at the break but the Gills put in a fantastic second half performance to book their place in the hat for round two.
Speaking after the game Martin said:
“It was a good performance, a good result, a great atmosphere and a good day for the club. We are through to the second round of the FA Cup; we scored four goals at home and kept a clean sheet.
“The only down side was an ankle injury to Bradley Dack but after making five changes to the team that played last week it was a great performance, a great result and a good day.
“It’s a lot more money for Mr. Scally, he’s won £18,000 today so if we win the next round I’m unsure what he will win then. Part of my job is to try and get money for him so he can help pay the wages and the bills that he has.
“It’s great for the supporters who love the FA Cup, as we all do.
“I’m very proud; I thought the first half was a challenge. The opposition came in with a new manager and we expected them to be hard to beat and to keep their shape.
“It was always going to be difficult to break them down and that’s what we were up against.
“In the second half we had far too much passion, power, pace and quality in possession. It was pleasing on the eye and our full backs started to bomb forward and once we got it moving around there was only ever going to be one winner.
“It was total domination from start to finish and our goalkeeper hasn’t had one save to make in the whole game apart from one early on.”
Birchall scored in second half stoppage time to net for the first time in a competitive game for the club and Martin was full of praise for the striker.
He said: “He is energetic; he has a great smile every day you come in to work. He has been out a long time with that knee and I think there have been times when he has wondered if he will play proper football again.
“14 months of hard work – worrying, anxiety and not sure which way it was going to turn but we have given him a standing ovation in the dressing room for his dedication.”